Multiple pocket envelope



Sept. 3, 1968 M. J. DODGE MULTIPLE POCKET ENVELOPE Filed July 3, 1967FIG. I

JNVENTOR. MERRILL J. DODGE ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,399,824MULTIPLE POCKET ENVELOPE Merrill J. Dodge, Longmeadow, Mass., assignorto United States Envelope Company, Springfield, Mass., a corporation ofMaine Filed July 3, 1967, Ser. No. 650,866 Claims. (Cl. 229-72) ABSTRACTOF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure is of a multiple pocket envelope madefrom a blank having a patch bonded or otherwise fixed thereto alonglines which divide the blank and patch into a number of pockets forreceiving coupons or other generally flat articles. In addition to themain panel to which the patch is attached the blank includes sidepanels,

a bottom panel and a closure panel or flap which areL foldable over themain panel to form a closed envelope within which the pockets arecontained and to hold in place the articles inserted in the pockets. Aquantity of adhesive is placed on the closure flap and may be used toseal the closed envelope.

Baickground of invenlion This invention relates in general to envelopesand deals more particularly with an envelope containing a number ofindividual pockets for receiving generally flat articles and whichpockets are concealed and closed when the envelope is closed.

The general aim of this invention is to provide an improved multiplepocket envelope particularly adapted to carry merchandise redemptioncoupons, stamps, coins or other similar articles having a generally fiatshape. The envelope, may for example, serve as iboth a receptacle inwhich the coupons are accumulated and as a mailing container for thecoupons after a requisite number have been saved for redemptionpurposes. It may also be used for mailing merchandise coupons toprospective purchasers, the pockets being used to segregate the coupons.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide an envelope of thekaforedescribed type adapted to economical machine production. A stillfurther object of this invention is to provide a multiple pocketenvelope wherein the pockets include transparent faces through theinserted articles are readily visible when the envelope is in an openposition, the pockets also rserving to arrange the inserted articles soas to readily visible as a group.

Summary of invention In accordance with the present invention a multiplepocket envelope is comprised of a blank of paper or other sheet materialhaving a generally rectangular main or front panel. A separate patch ofsheet material is aiiixed to this front panel along a number ofhorizontal and vertical lines which form the patch and the panel into anumber -of pockets having mouths located near associated edges on thefront panel. Connected to the front panel along its edges are two sidepanels, a bottom panel, and a top` or sealing panel which are foldablealong such edges into a closed condition at lwhich the panels envelopthe patch and the inserted articles.

Brief description of drawings FIG. 1 is a plan view of an envelopeembodying the present invention, the envelope being shown in its opencondition.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line of 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the side flaps intheir closed positions.

ICC

FIG. 4 is a plan view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the Ibottom apfolded over against the side flaps.

FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the top iiap foldedover against the bottom ap.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment In the drawing amultiple pocket envelope embodying the present invention is indicatedgenerally at 10 in FIG. 1, this gure showing the envelope in its fullyopen condition. T he envelope 10 is formed from a unitary blank 12 whichmay be cut by a die or other suitable means from paper stock or anyother suitable sheet material. The material from which the lblank 12 ismade is preferably opaque so that when the envelope is closed itscontents are concealed, but this is not necessary to the broader aspectsof the invention and if desired the blank 12 may be made from atransparent or translucent material. A plurality of fold or score linesdivide the blank 12 into a series of panels including a front or mainpanel 14, side panels 16 and 18, a rear or bottom panel 20 and a closureor sealing panel 22. The front panel 14 is generally rectangular inshape and is dened by two side fold lines 28 and 30, a bottom fold line26 and a top fold line 24. The panels 16, 18, 20 and 22 may be made invarious slightly different shapes but prefera-bly and as shown ea-ch ofthese panels is of a generally rectangular shape.

Attached to the rear surface of the main panel 14 is a patch 32 of asheet material. The patch 32 is generally rectangular in shape and inboth its horizontal and vertical dimensions is only slightly smallerthan the panel 14. The patch 32 is attached to the panel 14 along anumber of horizontal and vertical lines which divide it and the panelinto a number of generally rectangular sections forming pockets forre-ceiving coupons, such as shown at 33, or other generally flatarticles. The means for connecting the patch to the panel may takevarious different forms and in the illustrated case consists of a numberof strips` of adhesive. One strip 34 of adhesive extends horizontallyand is located at approximately the vertical midpoint of the patch. Anumber of laterally spaced vertical strips 36, 36 are also provided. Theadhesive strips 34 and 36, 36 are located between the patch 32 and thepanel 14 and therefore bond the patch to the panel to form a num-ber ofpockets 37, 37 and 39, 39. The patch is not -bonded to the blank alongits top or bottom edge andy therefore the upper row of pockets 39, 39have their mouths 38, 38 facing the adjacent top fold line 24 and thelower row of pockets 37, 37 have their mouths facing the adjacent bottomfold line 26.

From FIG. 1 it will be noticed that the patch 32 is of such size thatboth the upper row of pockets 39, 39 and the lower row of pockets 37, 37have their mouths 38, 38 located relatively close to the associatedenvelope fold line 24 or 26 and therefore it will be evident that whenthe pockets are filled with articles having a size generallycommensurate with that of the pockets the envelope 12 when folded to itsclosed condition of FIG. 5 will prevent the articles received in thepockets from falling therefrom. Furthermore, the material from which thepatch 32 is made is preferably transparent, as shown, so that when acoupon 33, or similar article is inserted in a pocket the face of thearticle directed toward the viewer in FIG. 1 is readily visible. Alsofrom FIG. 1 it will be noted that the Ivarious pockets are arranged in aat display so that when one article is inserted in each pocket all ofthe articles are readily visible as a group when the envelope is in itsopen condition.

After articles are inserted in the pockets 37, 37 and 39, 39 theenvelope is closed by following the sequence illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4and 5. First, as shown in FIG. 3,

the side panels 16 and 18 are folded inwardly respectively along theside fold lines 28 and 30 so as to overlie the patch 32 and the insertedarticles. Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the bottom panel 20 is foldedupwardly along the horizontal fold line 26 so as to overlie the sideflaps 16 and 18. Lastly, the closure panel 12 is folded downwardly alongthe horizontal fold line 24 so as to overlie the bottom panel 2f), asshown in FIG. 5. Along its outer edge the closure panel 12 is providedwith a strip of remoistenable adhesive 40 which may be used to seal theclosure liap if desired.

I claim:

1. A multiple pocket envelope consisting solely of a blank including agenerally rectangular front panel at least partially defined by firstand second generally parallel spaced fold lines, a patch of sheet`material directly overlying and adjacent said rectangular front panelso as to be in face to face contact therewith, and means directlyattaching said patch to said rectangular front panel along horizontaland vertical lines so as to form said patch and front panel into a firstrow of pockets having their mouths facing said first fold line, saidblank including a first panel integrally connected to said front panelalong said first fold line and a second panel integrally connected withsaid front panel along said second fold line, said first and secondpanels being foldable along said fold lines into closed positions atwhich they overlie said front panel, said first panel being of such asize as to overlie at least a part of said patch when in its closedposition thereby closing said mouths of said first row of pockets.

2. A multiple pocket envelope as defined in claim 1 furthercharacterized by said horizontal and vertical lines along which saidpatch is attached to said front panel being so arranged as toadditionally form said patch and panel into a second row of pocketshaving their mouths facing said second fold line, and said second panelbeing of such size as to overlie at least a part of said patch when inits closed position thereby closing said mouths of said second row ofpockets.

3. A multiple pocket envelope as defined in claim 2 furthercharacterized by said means directly attaching said patch to said frontpanel comprising a horizontal strip of adhesive located between andengaging both said patch and front panel at approximately its verticalcenter and a plurality of spaced vertical strips of adhesive locatedbetween and engaging both said patch and said front panel and extendingacross substantially the full vertical dimension of said patch.

4. A multiple pocket envelope as defined in clairn 1 furthercharacterized by said first and second panels being of such size as toat least partly overlap one another when in said closed position, and aquantity of adhesive on the free edge portion of one of said first andsecond panels for sealing it to the other of said first and secondpanels.

5. A multiple pocket envelope as defined in claim 3 furthercharacterized by said blank being made from an opaque material and saidpatch being made from a transparent material through which articlesinserted in said pockets may be viewed, said first and second panelsbeing of such size as to at least partly overlap one another when insaid closed positions, a quantity of adhesive on the free edge portionof one of said first and second panels for sealing it to the other ofsaid first and second panels, said blank including two side panels eachintegrally connected with said front panel along a respective one of twoside fold lines which side fold lines are spaced from one another andarranged generally perpendicular to said first and second fold lines,said side panels each being foldable along its associated fold line intooverlying relationship with said front panel, and said side panels beingof such size and shape as to partially cover said patch and to havetheir free side edges spaced a substantial distance from each other sothat a portion of said patch is exposed therebetween and at least someof the articles inserted in said pockets may be viewed when said firstand second panel are folded into open positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 413,351 10/1899 Rolfe 229-721,235,194 7/1917 Evans 229-929 2,887,327 5/ 1959 Tucker 229-72 3,245,5234/ 1966 White 206-0.83

DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.

